A packaging machine including a hot plate assembly adapted to fuse a length of heat-sensitive film wrapped around a package. A controller is adapted to calculate a time period the heating element is energized to fuse the length of heat-sensitive film wrapped around the package based on an initial temperature of the heating element. A hot plate status indicator is adapted to indicate at least to different statuses of operation of the packaging machine.

Disclosed are a sandwich panel capable of being advantageously applied to a body wearable device, and a method of manufacturing the same. The sandwich panel includes: a core; and face sheets attached to both surfaces of the core, wherein the face sheet is made of a two-dimensional auxetic material. The core has a neutral surface in accordance with bending moment and is made of a porous material. The face sheet is made of metal, polymer, ceramic, or a composite material, and has higher density, strength, and rigidity than the core. The method includes: processing face sheets; and attaching the face sheets to both surfaces of a core, wherein the face sheet is processed to have a two-dimensional auxetic structure.

A method is provided for fabricating a composite ply layup with a desired shape. The method includes moving a shuttle having a sheet of elastic material into engagement with at least one composite ply at a ply pickup station, and picking up the at least one composite ply with the shuttle. The method also includes transporting the shuttle and the at least one composite ply from the ply pickup station to a forming station, and moving the shuttle and the at least one composite ply into engagement with a forming tool at the forming station or any previously laid plies on the forming tool. The method further includes compacting the at least one composite ply on the forming tool or any previously laid plies on the forming tool with the shuttle to form the composite ply layup with the desired shape.

In one aspect, an article includes a first sleeve formed from a first heat-shrinkable polymer sheet, the first heat-shrinkable polymer sheet having opposed first and second edges, wherein the first sleeve is formed with a first seam proximate the first edge. A portion of the first heat-shrinkable polymer sheet extends between the first sleeve and the second edge. A tag is bonded to the portion of the first heat-shrinkable polymer sheet proximate the second edge at a first overlap zone of the tag and the portion of the first heat-shrinkable polymer sheet. In another aspect, an article includes a heat-shrinkable polymer sheet and a tag bonded to the sheet. The heat-shrinkable polymer sheet has a central area and a plurality of slits disposed through the sheet, at least one of the plurality of slits oriented to partially surround the central area.

Systems and methods for manufacturing a composite member. The system and methods are configured to move different types of composite plies from different supply stations. The composite plies are moved along a conveyance member and then with a transfer station to a forming tool. One or more forming members form the composite plies onto the forming tool.

A method for forming a thermoplastic body having regions with varied material composition and/or porosity. Powder blends comprising a thermoplastic polymer, a sacrificial porogen and an inorganic reinforcement or filler are molded to form complementary parts with closely toleranced mating surfaces. The parts are formed discretely, assembled and compression molded to provide a unitary article that is free from discernible boundaries between the assembled parts. Each part in the assembly has differences in composition and/or porosity, and the assembly has accurate physical features throughout the sections of the formed article, without distortion and nonuniformities caused by variable compaction and densification rates in methods that involve compression molding powder blends in a single step.

The present invention relates to a band-like joint tape for covering a butting portion formed by butting an end portion of a one packing film to an end portion of another packing film and connecting the respective end portions of these packing films to each other. The joint tape is comprised of a laminate film formed by adhering a joint layer to a support layer at a peelable state, and covered so as to face the joint portion to the butting portion and heat-sealed so that the joint layer is fused to the butting portion and the fused portion of the joint layer is peeled off from the support layer.

A production device for melt-blown non-woven fabric, with which a high molecular weight polymer can be reduced in molecular weight by applying a shear force to the high molecular weight polymer without adding an additive such as a peroxide that promotes thermal decomposition reaction, and a low molecular weight polymer can be efficiently produced. The low molecular weight polymer and the melt-blown non-woven fabric are produced using a continuous high shearing device that applies a shear force to the high molecular weight polymer serving as a raw material by rotation of a screw body 37 to reduce the molecular weight of the high molecular weight polymer so as to obtain a low molecular weight polymer, and cools the low molecular weight polymer by passing the low molecular weight polymer through a passage 88 arranged in the axial direction inside the screw body 37.

A tape deposition head for applying lengths of tape to a deposition surface, the tape deposition head comprising: a tape cutter having a tape inlet and a tape outlet, the tape cutter comprising: a feed roller configured to drive the tape though the tape cutter from the tape inlet to the tape outlet along a tape path; a nip roller acting against the feed roller to press the tape against the feed roller; and a tape slicer, the tape slicer having a blade for cutting the tape into lengths, the tape slicer being positioned between the feed roller and the tape outlet along the tape path; and a tape conveyor positioned at the tape outlet, the tape conveyor comprising: a deposition roller remote from the tape outlet; a capture roller; a vacuum chamber; and a belt that runs between the capture roller and the deposition roller, the capture roller being positioned proximal to the tape outlet so that tape exiting the tape outlet contacts the belt, the belt being configured to move a cut length of tape to the deposition roller along a capture surface of the tape conveyor for deposition of the length of tape on to the deposition surface, the vacuum chamber generating a variable level of vacuum along the capture surface to hold the length of tape to the belt.

A method for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced composite material molded article of the present invention includes a step of causing a reinforcing fiber base material to undergo deformation with use of a mold, the reinforcing fiber base material including: reinforcing fibers which are unidirectionally oriented; and a matrix resin composition. The reinforcing fiber base material has a cut in a zone which is to undergo shear deformation and/or compressive deformation, the cut being substantially parallel to an orientation direction of the reinforcing fibers, and has substantially no cut that cuts through a fiber.